Brake-beam fulcrum and method of making the same



C. E. BAUER.

Dec. 19, 1922.

BRAKE BEAM FULCHUM AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

FILED SEPT.2I, 1921.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922..

three CARL E. BAUER, OF HAIJEMGND, INDIANA.

BRAKE-BEAM FULCRUM AND IiIETHUD OF 1\TAKING THE SAME.

Application filed September 21, 1921. SerialNo. 502,243.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I. CARL E. BAUER, a oitizen of the United States, andresident of Hammond, in thecounty of Lake and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Brake-Beam Fulorum andMethodof Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway brake beams and particularly to a novelfulcrum for use in connection therewith. The method by which the fulcrumis produced is also believed to be novel and is hereinafter more fullyexplained.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a fulcrum adapted to beforged out of one bar of metal for use in connection with trussed brakebeams. The novel portion of the fulcrum is that which is in engagementwith the compression member of the beam. Many builders prefer to avoidweakening the beam to the extent of punching the web thereof inorder toprovide for riveting the fulcrum to the beam. The improvement hereindescribed relates to a construction in which the fulcrum is secured to achannel-shaped beam without the necessity for apertures therein.

The fulcrum and the method of producing it will be better understood byreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

' Figure 1 is a plan view of a bar or blank such as I employ;

Figure 2 is an edge view thereof;

Figures 3 and 4: are front and side views respectively of the bar afterthe initial forging operation is completed;

Figure 5 is a view showingthe side arms of the fulcrum in perspectiveand illustrating the manner of attaching theeiuls of the fuloruin to achannel-shaped beam;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the fulcrum taken at right anglesto that of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view showing the fulcrum in position between the tensionand compression members of a beam; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the channel-shaped compression memberat the point of attachment of the fulcrum thereto.

In the initial stage of the operation I provide a flat blank 10 ofsuitable length such as shown in Figures 1 and 2. By a forging operationthe blank is flared or flattened at its ends, as indicated at 11, andalso at its middle portion. as at 12. This is clearly illustrated inFigure 4:. The neXt step in the operation consists in doubling the blankupon itself at the flared portion 12, then forging the saddle or seatfor the tension rod 14:. This is described and claimed. in detail in myPatent No. 1,402,392, of J an. e, 1922.

The free ends 11 of the arms are then shaped to provide the hooked overportions 15 which extend along the flanges 16 of the channel-shapedcompression member and lie against the flat side of the web thereof. Theflaring and thinning of the end portions serve to spread the metal andprovide a much larger bearing and more secure support for the fulcrum inits engagement with the angular compression member. Suitable apertures17 are provided in the flared portrons of the arms and when these arebrought into register with notches 18 in the flanges of the compressionmember, a key 19 is inserted therethrough. The arms 20 of the completedfulcrum are properly held in spaced relation by means of a thimble 21located near the compression member and engaged and held by a rivet 22.It will be noted by reason of the arrangement shown that the fulcrumwill be firmly held. in position and will be efficient in. service. Afulcrum constructed as shown may be very economically manufactured bythe use of a minimum amount of material.

Obviously the method and the product thereof may be varied somewhat andI do not-wish to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim l. The method of niakiug brake beam fulcrums which consists inprovic i1g a flat blank, then thinning and flaring the ends of saidblank by a forging operation and laterally bending the extremities ofsaid flared and thinned portions to form hooks for ei'igageinent witha'beam, thendoubling said blank upon itself and providing a sad dle inthe doubled end.

2. The method of making brake beam fulcrums which consists in providinga blank, then flaring the end portions and the middle portion of saidblank by a forging operation, then shaping said end portions toprovide-hooks for engagement with a beam,

then doubling said blank upon. itself and forging a saddle in the middleflared portion thereof.

3. The method of making brake beam fulcrums which consists in providinga flat blank, then forging the end and intermediate portions thereof tothin and flare the same, then shaping the end portions to providelateral projections for engagement around a beam, then providingapertures in the flared end portions, then doubling the blank uponitself at the intermediate flared portion. and then forging saidintermediate flared portion to provide a seat for a ten sion rod.

A brake beam fulcrum composed of a single bar doubled upon itself, aforged tension I rod seat being provided in the doubled end, the freeends of the arms being flattened and flared and having inturned flangesfor engagement with a compression member.

5. A brake beam fulcrum composed of a single piece doubled upon itselfand forged to provide a saddle in the doubled portion, the free ends ofthe arms being forged to spread the metal and provide lateral inturnedflanges for engagement around the beam, means located near the free endsof the arms for rigidly holding and spacing apart the arms, and a keyadapted to pass through said arms at the flared portion thereof andengage With a beam whereby to hold the fulcrum against displacementlongitudinally of the beam.

Signed at Chicago, 111., this 19th day of September, 1921,

CARL E, BAUER.

